Shot shell



38 L.S.C.

Jan. '4, 1966 J. L. RAMER snow snm.

Filed Sept. 5, 1963 INVENTOR. JAMES L. RAMER ATTORNEYS I tube is cl closed t i 3,227,085 SHOT SHELL James-L. Ramer, 1536 E. 37th Place, Tulsa, Okla. -Filed Sept. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 306,828

1 -6 Claims. (Cl. 102-42) invention relates to a method and apparatus for loading. and reloading shot shells and the l ke. More sp callythisinvention relates'to a shot wrapper and a? ethfo'ti fon usingthis shot wrapper in loading and re- United States Patent the shell is fired the crimped endis blasted I apid discharge of the shot charge and the o, scatterin the gunbarrel resulting in a relat el nonuniform. and widely separated shot pattern. he also of. economy it is the. common practice tog re 0a ,shp'tgunshells. In reloading, the same tube and ba se are reused with new shot charge, propellant charge wadding. and primer cap. However, after a relatively few-reloadings of the sameshotgun tube the open endishot charge end) of the tube becomes highly flexibleand tattered, making it impossible to crimp the end 9 efiic'ientlyretain the shot charge in the tube. Whent his, occursthe shotgun shell tube and base must be thrown aw-ay as no longerusable.

. It ha's' long-been recognized that there exists a need dmgfthe use ofthese shell tubes and base memwever, prior to this invention there has been no attempt made toward the realization of this Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a shot wrapper and a methodfor using this shot wrapperin, loading and reloading shotgun shells that greatly ;x tends ithe ense of the reusable portions of the shotgun shells. q-QIlIlSQIJOthCI -ObjCCt of this invention to provide a shot pperfor use in loading and reloading shells that is onornicalf to manufacture, is simple of construction and easily usable.

. lilt i'sfstill another object of this invention to provide a shot wrapper for use in loading and reloading shotgun shells. wherein the shot wrapper serves a dual function of holding, the shot together until after it emerges from the. muzzle and closing the open shot charge end o fl 't'he shell tube.

A. urtherob'j ect of thisinile'ntion is to provide a shot wrapper for use in loading andreloading shotgun shells tliafis received inside the open end of the shell tube, surrounding the shot charge therein, and is provided along one edge with a-prefolded star crimp portion to erase the open end of the shell tube.

' "Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a shot wrapper that surrounds the shot charge in the gun shell' tube and is expelled from the tube and the gun barrelalong with the shot charge upon firing of the shell. T

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a shot wrapper that is received about the shot charge in 3,227,085 Patented Jan. 4, 1966 the muzzle of the gun at which time the wrapper falls free of the charge.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts of the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal crosssectional view of a shotgun shell including the shot wrapper'of this inv n on- FIGURE 2 is aplan view of the shot wrapper of this invention in its unrolled, flat position. 1

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the shotgun shell of FIGURE 1 taken along line 3-3.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION In general the shot wrapper of this invention is intended for use-in loading and reloadinga-shot gun shell consisting generally of a shell tube having a forward and a rearward 'end with a base member, including a primer cap, received. about the rearward end of the shell tube to close that end; the tube containing a propellant charge and a shot charge, separated by one or more layers of gun wadding.

' The shot wrapper consists of an elongated substantially fiat ribbon of foldable material such as paper or relatively thin plastic. The ribon is preferably rectangular in shape and is provided along one longitudinal edge portion with a rectangular shaped area of pre-indented fold lines, preferably of the star crimp type. [This ribbon is adapted to berolled longitudinally into a cylinder having an outside diameter approximately equal to the inside diameter of the forward end portion of the shell tube. The cylindrically rolled ribbon is intended to be telescoped coaxially into the open forward end portion of the shell tube, surroundingthe shot charge contained therein, with the area of fold lines extending forwardly of the forward end of the shell tube.-

The area of fold lines preferably has a length approximately equal to the inside circumference of the forward end of shell tube and a width approximately equal to the inside radius of the open end of the shell tube so SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION For a more specific description of this invention reference is now made to the drawings in general and spespecifically to FIGURE 1 wherein is shown a shotgun shell 10 that is provided with the shot wrapper of this invention. Shotgun shell 10 consists of a shell tube 12 the rearward end 14 of which is received within the relatively short cylindrical metallic base member 16. Base member 16 is substantially cup-shaped having cylindrical side wall 18 and a disc-shaped bottom wall 20.

Bottom Wall 20 is provided at its center with a conventional primer cap 22. Since cap 22 is of a conventional design further description of this cap will be omitted.

An annular wooden or fabric support member 24 is positioned coaxially within the end 14 of tube 12, surrounding cap 22, to cushion detonation shock to prevent damage to the metallic base member 16 and tube 12 when the shell 10 is fired.

A propellant charge 26 is located within the tube 12, adjacent support member 24 and in contact with the upper end of the primer cap 22. One or more layers 28 and 30 of a conventional-gun, wadding material is positioned coaxially within tube 12 immediately adjacent to the propellant charge 26. The shot charge 32 is packed into the forward end 34 of tube 12, adjacent to the gun shotgun shell in use today. The novelty of this invention resides in the shot wrapper 36 positioned in the upper end 34 of the tube 12.

For more specific description of shot wrapper 36 reference is now made to FIGURE 2. Shot wrapper 36 is a substantially rectangular shaped fiat piece of pliable material such as heavy paper, thin plastic, or similar material. The total length TL of wrapper 36 is sufficiently great that the wrapper can be rolled longitudinally to form a cyclindrical sheath the outside diameter of which is approximately equal to the inside diameter of the shell tube 12. It is preferred that the wrapper 36 be long enough to allow for a slight overlapping of the ends 33 and 40 when the wrapper is rolled into the cylindrical sheath. Wrapper 36 is provided along one longitudinal peripheral area 42 with a series of preindented star crimp-type fold lines 44. These fold lines 44 facilitate the folding of area 42 inwardly to close the upper end 34 of shell tube 12 after the wrapper 36 and shot charge 32 have been placed in the tube. The length L of fold area 42 is preferably equal to the inside circumference of shell tube 12. The width W of fold area 42 is preferably equal to or slightly less than one half the inside diameter of the shell tube 12 since area 42 is to be folded radially inwardly at right angles to the axis of the tube to close the forward ends of the cylindrically rolled wrapper 36 and tube 12.

The number of fold sections FS is strictly a matter of preference of the manufacturer with either 6 or 8 being most commonly preferred. When the wrapper 36 is rolled into a cylindrical sheath one edge 46 of the area of fold 42 will lie adjacent to the other edge 48 of that area. Therefore the angle of the fold section AFS will be equal to 360 divided by the number of fold sections in the wrapper 36.

It is preferred that the wrapper 36 completely surround the substantially cylindrical outer surface of the shot charge 32 when in place within the shell tube 12. Therefore, the total width TW of the wrapper 36 is preferably equal to the length of the shot column LSC plus the width W of the fold area 42.

By way of summary, the following are the preferred dimensions of wrapper 36 asabove described;

In assembling the shot wrapper 36 of this invention the wrapper is rolled lengthwise into a cylinder with the ends 38 and 40 overlapping by a preferred amount of approximately 0.10 inch. The wrapper thus formed into a cylinder is telescoped coaxially into the open end 34 of shell tube 12 with the peripheral fold area 42 extending upward from the forward open end 34. The shot charge 32 is then packedinto the shell within the cylindrically shaped wrapper 36. The peripheral fold area 42 of the wrapper 36 is then folded radially inwardly and downwardly until it extends substantially at right angles to the axis of the shell as shown in FIGURE 1.

As above described the preindented fold lines 44 greatly simplify this folding operation which is especially important when shell 10 is being reloaded by one other than the manufacturer. Also, lines 44 assist the loader in producing a very uniform star crimp which will be strong folded area 42 and the cyli drical side portion 50 of" the wrapper 36. This lip 52 assists in maintaining'th star crimp in its folded position.

As is seen in FIGURE 1 when the dimensions of the shot wrapper 36 are those listed above as preferred, the shot charge 32 will be, substantially surrounded over its entire axial length by the wrapper 36 and theforward open end 34 of the shell tube 12 will-besubstantially closed by the star crimped area 42 of the shot wrapper.

When the shell 10 is discharged the gases resulting: from the rapid burning of the propellant charge 26 force-the gun wadding 28 and 30, the shot charge 32 and the shot wrapper 36 out the open forward end 34 of the shell tube 12, out the barrel of the gun. Since it is preferred that shot wrapper 36 be expelled from the shell and the muzzle of the gun it is necessary that there be little or nob'onding material between the outside surface of Wrapper 36' -and the interior surface of the forward end 34 of theshell tube 12. ,It should be understood however, that the wrapper 36 will be retained within the forward end 34"of theshell tube 12 by the friction resulting from the con-tact'6f the outside surface of the wrapper 36 with the inside surface of shell tube 12.

As the shot charge 32 travels down the barrel of the gun, substantially the entire length of the charge will be surrounded by the wrapper 36. Therefore, the shot charge 32 will be maintained'in its closely packed position to greatly increase the uniformity of the shot patternf'after the shot leaves the muzzle of the gun. A short distance and will not unfold to allow loss of the shot charge 32 after the shot charge 32 leaves the muzzleof the gun the shot wrapper 36 will fall away from the shot charge to all-ow the shot to disperse to form a relatively tight, uniform shot pattern. i

In addition to facilitating the loading and reloading of shot gun shells and improving the shot pattern, wrapper 36 functions as a sheath surrounding the major portion Since the shell tube 12 issurrounded by'thebore'of Furthermore, since contemplated that the shot wrapper 36 of-this invention can be used with any shotgun shell having an open ended tubular body portion closed at one end by a base section including a prime cap.

It should be obvious from the foregoing description that the shot wrapper of this invention greatly increases the number of times thata'conventional shotgun-shell cf'anzibe reloaded and fired. Furthermore the shot wrapper 0f this invention greatly improvesthe shot pattern of the shell and reduces damage to the bore of the gun'usually resulting from continued contact of the bore with the shot charge of the shells. I

Furthermore, this shot wrapper is relatively constructed, economical, and easily installed in conye'ntib nal shell tube both at the original loading'of the shell and at subsequent reloadings of the shell. The pre- .indented star crimp peripheral edge portion of 'the shot wrapper makes it possible for the reloader to easily-close the open end of the shell tube 12 to preventescape there- .from otthe shot charge before detonation of the shell.

The invention has been described by reference to specific .and preferred embodiments. It will be apparent,

. 6 however, that many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, this invention should be construed not to be limited to the embodiment herein described but should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 5

What is claimed is:

1. A shot gun shell consisting of a shell tube having a forward and a rearward end;

a base member received about said rearward end of said tube to close said rearward end, said base mem- 1O ber including a primer cap;

a propellant charge located in the rearward end portion of said tube;

at least one layer of gun wadding in said tube, adjacent said propellant charge;

a shot charge in the open forward end portion of said tubes adjacent said gun wadding;

a shot wrapper comprising an initially elongated substantially flat rectangular flat ribbon of pliable and foldable material rolled longitudinally to form a cylinder having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said forward end of said tube, said cylinder being coaxially received within said open forward end portion of said tube, surrounding said shot charge, said ribbon provided along one longitudinal edge portion thereof with a at least one layer of gun wadding in said tube, adjacent substantially rectangular area of preindented fold said propellant charge; lines, said area initially extending forwardly of said a shot charge in the open forward end portion of said forward end of said tube, said area being folda'ble tube, adjacent said gun wadding; radially inwardly along said fold lines to close said a wrapper comprising an initially elongated substancylinder formed of said ribbon and said closure extially rectangular flat ribbon of plyable and foldable tending forwardly of said forward end of said shell material, said ribbon provided along one longituditube.

nal edge portion with an area of preindented fold 5. A shot gun shell according to claim 4 wherein said es, said ribbon rolled longitudinally into a cylinarea of pre indented fold lines has a length substantially der and telescoped coaxially within said open forequal to the inside circumference of said forward end of ward end portion of said shell tube, completely -said shell tube and a width substantially equal to the insurrounding said shot charge, and with a second side radius of said forward end, of said shell tube. edge of said rectangular ribbon, opposite to said first 6. A shot gun shell according to claim 4 wherein said edge, abutting said wadding, said preindented area ribbon has a length at least as great as the inside circumbeing folded radially inwardly along said fold lines ference of said forward end of said tube and a width subto form a star shaped closure for said cylinder stantially equal to the sum of the axial length of said shot formed of said wrapper, said closure adjacent said charge and'the inside radius of said forward end of forward end of said tube.

said tube.

2. A shot gun shell according to claim 1 wherein said ribbon is substantially rectangular in shape with length References Clted by the mi at least as great as the inside circumference of said for- UNITED STATES PATENTS ward end of said shell tube and width approximately 50 536 10/1865 p 102 42 equal to the sum of the axial length of said shot charge 974369 11/1910 83 LI" and the inside radius Of said forward end Of said shell 1 123 :976 1 1915 Auchu 102 43 1,646,083 10/1927 DeGarkovenko et a1. 102 43 3. A Shot gun shell accordlng to 01am 1 wherem said 2 336 065 12/1943 Cadham 102 43 area of preindented fold lines is substantially rectangular 40 2682222 6/1954 Richardson et aL 102 42 in shape with length at least as great as the inside cir- 2,759,420 8/1956 Schultz 102 42 cumference of said forward end of said shell tube and 3055301 9/1962 Miller a1 102 42 width approximately equal to the inside radius of said forward end of said shell tube. 3,121,391 2/1964 Young 102-42 4. A shot gun shell comprising, in combination: 45 FOREIGN PATENTS a shell tube having an open forward end and a closed 547 793 9/ 1962 Great Britain rearward end;

a primer cap in said rearward end of said tube;

- a propellant charge located in the rearward end portion BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. of said tube;

SAMUEL FEINBERG, Examiner. 

1. A SHOT GUN CONSISTING OF A SHELL TUBE HAVING A FORWARD AND A REARWARD END; A BASE MEMBER RECEIVED ABOUT SAID REARWARD END OF SAID TUBE TO CLOSE SAID REARWARD END, SAID BASE MEMBER INCLUDING A PRIMER CAP; A PROPELLANT CHARGE LOCATE IN THE REARWARD END PORTION OF SAID TUBE; AT LEAST ONE LAYER OF GUN WADDING IN SAID TUBE, ADJACENT SAID PROPELLANT CHARGE; A SHOT CHARGE IN THE OPEN FORWARD END PORTION OF SAID TUBE, ADJACENT SAID GUN WADDING; A WRAPPER COMPRISING AN INITIALLY ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FLAT RIBBON OF PLYABLE AND FOLDABLE MATERIAL, SIAD RIBBON PROVIDED ALONG ONE LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTION WITH AN AREA OF PREINDENTED FOLD LINES, SAID RIBBON ROLLED LONGITUDINALLY INTO A CYLINDER AND TELESCOPED COAXIALLY WITHIN SAID OPEN FORWARD END PORTION OF SAID SHELL TUBE, COMPLETELY SURROUNDING SAID SHOT CHARGE, AND WITH A SECOND EDGE OF SAID RECTANGULAR RIBBON, OPPOSITE TO SAID FIRST EDGE, ABUTTING SAID WADDING, SAID PREINDENTED AREA BEING FOLDED RADIALLY INWARDLY ALONG SAID FOLD LINES TO FORM A STAR SHAPED CLOSURE FOR SAID CYLINDER FORMED OF SAID WRAPPER, SAID CLOSURE ADJACENT SAID FORWARED END OF SIAD TUBE. 